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The1956 Wisconsin Supreme Court election was held on Tuesday, April 3, 1956 to elect a justice to a full ten-year seat theWisconsin Supreme Court.Thomas E. Fairchild (son of incumbent justiceEdward T. Fairchild – who was not seeking reelection) won the election. He handily defeatedWilliam H. Dieterich (aperennial candidate for state office, who later won a surprise victory inthe 1958 election to the court).[1]
Prior to the general election, a nonpartisan primary was held in which both Fairchild and Dieterich advanced against former state legislatorClair Finch.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary election (March 6, 1956) | |||||
| Nonpartisan | Thomas E. Fairchild | 250,442 | 71.77 | ||
| Nonpartisan | William H. Dieterich | 68,288 | 19.57 | ||
| Nonpartisan | Clair Finch | 30,244 | 8.67 | ||
| Total votes | 348,974 | 100 | |||
| General Election (April 3, 1956) | |||||
| Nonpartisan | Thomas E. Fairchild | 574,429 | 77.59 | ||
| Nonpartisan | William H. Dieterich | 165,953 | 22.41 | ||
| Total votes | 740,382 | 100 | |||
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